Category 5 vs 8 ?

[skeegan]

Two years ago we stayed in a Category 5 room and loved it. We just tried to book another category 5 using DVC points and were told the best available for the time we wanted to sail was a Category 8. The web site still shows Category 5's, so I called twice, same answer.

There are 4 of us (2 adults, teenager, and 7 yr. old.).

We have several questions:
Will we be happy with a Category 8?
Are the views similar?
Is the rocking motion at the front of the boat worse?
Is the room size noticably smaller?

Thanks.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Not all of the category 5's sleep 4. Some do not have the pulldown bed over the sofa, so that may be why the website shows them as available, but the reservations agents do not.

Anyway, the rooms are essentially the same, with the obvious difference that the category 8's do not have a verandah. The interiors are the same size. The layout might be a bit different, with the bed near the window and the sofa closer to the door, but I think the amount of living space is the same. I would think that the views would be very similar, except for the breeze that you'd get from the verandah. As for the motion of the ship, I personally do not feel it more from fore to aft, but rather it is more noticable to me the higher I am on the ship (but only slightly so at that). I don't think you'll notice a lot of difference.

If you're dead set on that specific date, my suggestion would be to book the category 8 and waitlist yourself for a category 5 or 6. You could then call back once a week or so to see if anything has opened up. I find the call-back method works better than just waiting for the waitlist to work.

As to whether you'll be happy with the category 8, it's hard to say. I would suggest considering how much of what you liked about the category 5 room had to do with the verandah. I'm of the opinion that being on the ship is preferable to being off of it, so if the category 8 is all you can get, I'd do it. Especially if you have to sail on that date. If the verandah is a must for you, then you might want to consider another sailing, where you could find a cabin with a verandah. Again, there's always the waitlist, which gives you a fair chance of finding an opening and switching from category 8 to 5 (or 6).

Good luck!

 

[skeegan]

So it sounds like the room size is the same. Does anyone know if:

Is the rocking motion at the front of the boat worse?
Is the noise from the engines a problem?

Thanks.

Susan

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Hi, neighbor! Good to see you on the board again!

Originally posted by skeegan

Is the rocking motion at the front of the boat worse?

There is no noticeable difference in boat's motion between forward, midships, or aft. The ship is the length of three football fields... something that large can't rock back and forth as affected by individual waves.

Is the noise from the engines a problem?

Yes, if you're directly across from the exhaust stacks on Deck 2. Anywhere aft, you can feel the low rumbling of the engines. Whether that bothers you or not depends on whether you like low, "white" noise. Some people find it quite soothing.

 

[Lisa F]

there IS a little bit of a difference in the front of the boat vs. the back of the boat in regard to the boat rocking, but it's not front to back rocking, it's the side to side rocking. If the waves are a little rough and the boat is cutting through them, you can notice a little bit more of a difference in the front of the boat than in the back. This helps me to sleep though, so I have never minded it, and it was only barely worse, not like it was perfectly calm in the middle and you were being thrown from side to side in the front. In fact, sometimes the difference was so small I just had to wonder if the waves had picked up a little since the last time I checked to see how hard it was rocking.

As far as cat 8 vs. cat 5, we have never cruised with a verandah because of cost issues. The difference from a cat 10 (secret porthole room) that we currently have booked and a cat 6 was about $1,000 (for a cruise that costs $2,000 for two people). That $1,000 difference will more than cover our onboard expenses so we just couldn't justify it, plus our favorite place is on deck 10 where you're completely open to the elements, even above. I might feel differently about a verandah if I had very young children who had to nap and I needed a place to go while they nap.

Lisa

 

[prymsu]

IMHO, once you have cruised with a verandah, it is hard not to have one when you cruise again!!!